Born in Montreal, Julia completed her B.A.(1974) at McGill University, majoring in Art History and her B.F.A., (1975) at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. After university Julia worked in print-making at La Guilde Graphique in Montreal and later in book design at McGill Queen’s University Press. She was a partner in a design firm in Toronto and then principal of her own design firm from 1993- 2001 when she returned to painting full time. She has taught design at the Ontario College of Art and Design and has sat on juries for both the Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario College of Art.